India
Corruption Study is a broad report on the perception, experience and estimation
of corruption in the specific context of a service. Unlike earlier studies,
this one is focused on BPL households, mostly in rural India. Eleven services were investigated, divided
broadly into “basic services” (PDS, Hospital, School Education, Electricity and
Water Supply Services) and “need-based services” (Land Records &
Registration, Housing, Forest, NREGS, Banking and Police Service).
1.
About one-third of BPL households, across the
country paid bribes in the last one year to avail one or more of the eleven
public services covered in the study. It shows the poor are not spared even in
the case of targeted programmes.
2.
Nearly two per cent of BPL households could not
avail PDS, School Education and Electricity services, as they could not pay
bribe or alternately had no contact or influence to get access to services. In
fact, in the last one year, more than four per cent of BPL households could not
obtain Land Records/Registration, NREGS, Housing and Police Service for the
same reasons.
3.
Perception
about Corruption: Perception about corruption was a mixed one. Corruption,
as perceived by users of the service, is relatively high (two-thirds or more)
in Police, Land and Housing services. In these services, the percentage of
those who think corruption has increased in the previous year is also high.
These services are monopolistic in the nature, with more scope for
discretionary decision making and also because the money involved in these
transactions is higher.
4.
Use of “a
contact”: If they cannot pay bribe to avail a public service like PDS,
NREGS and/or Housing, even though it is a targeted programmes aimed at BPL
households, a “contact” would enable them to access the same. This “contact”
could be a “middle man” or a functionary including an elected representative.
5.
Paid Bribe
(purpose): One-third or more of BPL households paid bribes in the case of
basic services only “to get into the very service” like getting a new ration
card, new connection, new installation or an admission in school. In fact, in
the case of need-based services, half or more of BPL households paid bribe
either for obtaining a certificate, a record, to get registered as eligible, to
get an allotment, to get bank loan, or to file a complaint in Police Station.
6.
Causes of
Corruption: In the delivery of basic services, it is procedures that were
pointed out as the cause of corruption and for their need to be simplified. In
the case of need-based services, it is more counselling and sensitizing of the
staff and transparency in the processes that needs to be addressed seriously.
Citizens’ felt that “absence and/or non-availability of staff” reinforces the
environment for “bribe seeking”. Similarly, the discretionary powers of the
functionaries at the service delivery point, the more the scope for corruption
– as in Police, Forest and Housing services.
7. Suggestion: Urgently required are
simplification of procedures and even eliminating certain formalities for BPL
households; more visible and interactive redressal practices; curbing
discretionary options with individuals at service delivery points; and
accountability by giving identities of functionaries.
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